Saturday, July 12, 2008
BOOK RECOMMENDATION ...
I am not one to say you have to read this or read that unless I really believe it ... I recommended "Jesus Calling" because it was a devotional book that changed my life ... It spoke the word of God to me each day ... It was a nugget of LIGHT to start each day and anchor to use through out my day ... I know many of you have been encouraged by it and use it daily ...
Well, I have another recommendation... This is not a devo book, but a book that has changed my perspective on people ... It is a true story written w/ such honesty, love, and transformation that you can just feel God smiling as the story unfolds ... I don't want to give anything away, but I just know many of you would enjoy reading it. You will cry for the hurt and injustices and rejoice when God's people rise up and love another they way we should all love each other ... It is a friendship story that rivals any I have ever heard !!!
On A Side Note:
We have had a very emotional week here at the Oatsvall house ... We have family that is in such pain and turmoil as they walk through a fire, we have heard from the Lord about a ministry that we have been praying about for the last few months, I had an amazing day w/ a blogger as she experienced a hard adoption day, and I had a meeting w/ some sweet anointed ladies that helped me grow the vision of THE BOOK ... I have no doubt that God has called me to walk through life as an ADOPTION ADVOCATE/FRIEND/ENCOURAGER/AND MUCH MORE ... I just want you to know that I do not take this lightly ... I appreciate all of you who email me and trust me to walk w/ you ... I feel blessed and honored to be that person ...
LOVE TO YOU ALL ...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
19 kind words.:
You were such an encouragement to me this week and something I will never forget..like you said though we had never met, our spirits came together on a very emotional week for me and I will forever be grateful to you for praying with us and for us this week...My sister in Christ...
This book is amazing. We did it for book club at church and it totally changed how I view things. Sounds like God was busy today showing you some things as well, my friend!
Love you too girl....and I know you are praying for us....I will let you know when I know anything!!!!
I don't know how you find the emotional strength to be such a generous woman, Gwen. May God continue to provide you with such a HUGE heart and super human powers. Hugs.
Gwen - i always find it amazing the way the Lord weaves His perfect plan and how He uses us even when we feel less than able. I love hearing the confidence in your post of how He is using you and how He daily changes your perspective to be able to minister to so many. You are an instrument Gwen and your heart truly touches my very soul.
As I work on a submission for the BOOK, I realize how powerful people's stories can be - I begin at one place and realize, "well that is not really where this began" and so on - it has blessed me more than you will ever know.
Blessings for a wonderful week.
Love,
Heather
You minister to me in so many ways!
I am so glad that you finally read the book, I told you it that it would change you! Sorry for not giving the "ugly cry warning" that goes with reading the book though. :)
Thank you for the recomendation friend...
I am sorry it has been such a draining week. You are all in my prayers and how thankful I am for the blessing of you......
You my dear are Christ Jesus' advocate.
Love,
Daleea
This book sounds wonderful! I so wish I had read this post yesterday, or I would have snagged it up at Lifeway last night. It is clear that God has called you and you have stepped up to the plate. You are an enormous advocate, friend and encourager.
My book club read this book last month and loved it!! I honestly have to say that I didn't read it, but I did sit in on the discussion and it sounded awesome...One of these days when i quit blogging or slow down with it, I'll pick back up reading. Thanks for sharing your week..you're changing a lot of lives, Kristi
After such a VERY FUN AND EXCITING DAY for our family, I can't believe I'm ending it on such a sour note, but I/we need some SERIOUS prayer for my parents, mostly my dad. He's got Alzheimer's, as I think I may have told you, but it's progressing, I think, much quicker than any of us thought. I just need prayer that it doesn't get any worse (although I know it will) over the next year; he's gonna celebrate his 75th birthday on Friday...my mom celebrated her 70th yesterday...please also pray that they stay in relatively good health
I will have to pick this book up while I wait for the next Karen Kingsbury to come out (sigh). Hugs to you.
We need to start or join an adoption support ministry.
Oh sweet Gwen...you are amazing! I will be lifting the family you mentioned in prayer..as well as the others.
You are always such a huge blessing to me!!!
Love you tons and tons!!!
I posted this on my blog recently and wanted to share....
When God is about to do a delightful thing, He begins with a difficulty. When He is able to do an incredible thing, He begins with an impossibility. He delights in turning obstacles into opportunities and trials into triumphs. A reliable reporter refers to this in Psalms 66:6.
The children of Israel were on their way to the Promised Land. They came to the seacoast and camped. Suddenly they looked up and saw the enemy coming upon them. What hopeless hopelessness! Before them the sea. Behind them the soldiers. What would it be....drowning or destruction?
But God was there. He is always between His children and their circumstances. He never leaves them in the lurch. And the Psalmist testified, "He turned the sea into dry land...they went through the flood on foot...there did we rejoice in Him."
Is there a sea before you? God did not bring you there to drown you, but to deliver you. He will make a dry road through your sea and you will cross on foot. And then you, too, will say, "There did we rejoice in Him!"
May God Bless you too Gwen! We Love your heart for the work of the Lord!
I'm asking for prayer from all you prayer warriors. My hubby is sick and has had a fever since last thursday. The doctors have no idea what it is. I was supposed to go to Haiti (adoption related) this weekend to file our I-600 and to visit the son we are adopting, this is impossible now. Brad will see in infectious disease doctor tomorrow as he's been to China to adopt our son, and also to Haiti last year. Please pray we find an answer, or better yet, for complete healing in Jesus Name! Terry
oh I just read this also. Set out at the pool doing the ugly cry. Wow what a story how it makes me want to do more....
Thanks for you adoption support and prayers. I will need you alot in the next 24-30 months. So thankful for your friendship.
Gwen, It's Holly Dunlap (Tiffany's sister). I don't know why I never wrote you before. I have your blog as a link on my own blog, and I check in periodically. I am very inspired by your writings and pics. I am a poet and college teacher now (will be teaching a class in the fall called "Writing Children's Literature"-which is very exciting for me), as I used to teach preschool as well. I have always wanted children, but none of us as siblings have been able to choose that at this point. Who knows if we will...only God. I have thought about adopting on my own many times, but I would rather my child have a father, me have a partner. So anyway, know I am praying for you and your children and family. I will keep this book in mind. I really like the title.
Gwen - the other day a family walked by our house because they knew we had adopted. They are interested in meeting with us to learn more.
Like you -- I feel this is my ministry, as bumbling and stumbling as I may feel.
Your blog always encourages me!
Thanks for the book recommendation. I picked it up from the Library yesterday evening and finished reading it in one sitting...long after my family went to bed. I couldn't put it down. Very touching, and it does put a new light on the way that I look at each and every individual. God has an ultimate plan for everyone.